Summit Sunsets - Mount Yonah (+ Moonrise)

This another in the Summit Sunset Series where we will enjoy sunsets from some of the finest scenic viewpoints in GA...all on or near mountain peaks.  If you've never had this experience, you don't know what you're missing, so time to find out...

This should end up being the 100th event I've led for the AOC...met so many cool people along the way and made so many great memories.   And only appropriate to go back to where I led my first (and 13 others)...Mount Yonah.  I never get tired of taking groups up here, especially those who have never been before.

We usually do this one as a D4, but making it D3 on this occasion and just going at a slower pace.   We've done this before and it works well.

The drive to Yonah is only about 65 miles...very reasonable.  We wiill hit the trail and enjoy a nice overlook about 1/3 of the way up.  Then check out "The Boulder" and take a side trip to climbing wall if the rock isn't wet.   We will enjoy some different overlooks, and then head to the summit, a peaceful clearing surrounded by a ring of trees.   Then we head to a rock outcropping to watch the sunset.  

Sunset is at 8:41.  Then we will head to an overlook on the other side of the mtn (some bushwhacking required but not more than 1/10 mi) to hopefully watch the moonrise at 9:45.  This is one day after the official full moon so it will still be 99%+ full.

We'll start hiking down about 10 min after the moonrise, and it shouldn't take us more than about 45 min to get back to the cars and head home.  

Total distance should be about 4.7 miles...about 1700' of ascent.  Remember the slower pace is what makes this a D3...however...the way up to the climbing wall involves somewhat steep terrain...there are some steel cables to grip onto if you need to.  But it's not that difficult and if anyone doesn't feel comfortable, they could just take a break and wait there for a few min until we come back down...but no one usually has any problems.